The Grand Prix of Hungary 2006 - Wet czardas at Hungaroring F1,Formule 1, construct, konstrukce | Constructors F1 Constructors F1

The Grand Prix of Hungary 2006 - Wet czardas at Hungaroring

L.Pecháček/foto J.Křenek | 6.8.06 | Komentáře - L.Pecháček 2006

F1 comments L.Pešcháček

The rain has never happened during the GP of Hungary in the past 20 years. This time it was the first issue to change the teams' plans. The other one the both title candidates prepared entirely on their own. They were penalized for passing under the yellow flag which added 2 seconds to all their qualification times. That put M. Schumacher to the 11th and Alonso to the 15th place on the grid. The pole position was taken by Räikkönen for the second time in a row with McLaren - Mercedes in his 100th F1 start. There was Massa in the first row next to him, followed by Barrichello and de la Rosa, Webber and R. Schumacher, Fisichella and Trulli, freshman Robert Kubica (substituting for injured Villeneuve at BMW) and Heidfeld. The unusual top ten was accompanied by unusual cold (17°C) and wet road. The teams had to use untested midi or wet tires.

The start was very careful. Räikkönen was first, Massa fell far behind. M. Schumacher and both Renaults performed an excellent attack style. Mainly Alonso got from the 15th place to the 3rd and after the first pit stop even to the leading position! The standings were: Alonso - Räikkönen - de la Rosa - Button - Coulthard - Barrichello - Heidfeld - R. Schumacher - M. Schumacher and Speed. At the very beginning Yamamoto and Webber retired, later also Fisichella, Klien and Rosberg. M. Schumacher damaged his front wing and had to go to the pits.Then the tragedy struck. Räikkönen was approaching Liuzzi by 1 lap. He failed to register that the Italian slowed down to let him pass and hit him with his left front wheel. They both had to retire. The Safety Car was deployed and stayed for 5 laps. Alonso had had the fastest lap time, however as the track was getting dry Schumacher surpassed him with a distinction. After the second pit stop he reached as far as the second place. And another tragedy happened: Alonso put on dry tires but his car wouldn't get under control. His rear wheel nut gave up. It was Button to get to the leading position driving away from everybody. De la Rosa fought a thrilling duel with Michael Schumacher. With fresher tires than Michael and having spent 5 laps in fruitless attacks he finally got over the Ferrari driver. Heidfeld followed him as well. At that moment it was clear that there was something wrong with Michael's car. Two laps to the finish M. Schumacher stopped at the pit stop with tires totally ruined. That was the third tragedy!Jenson Button kept his leading position to the finish. He won for the first time after 163 GPs. Pedro de la Rosa could feel similarly happy as he reached the podium for the first time at his 35. Neither Nick Heidfeld was sad: he stood on the podium for the first time this season too. Also the 7th freshman Kubica from Poland gained points, however his joy was a bit early. His BMW - Sauber was bellow the weight limit and consequently disqualified. M. Schumacher thus got his windfall of one point, though with a 3 lap loss.The Championship standings changed just a trifle. Alonso's gain to M.Schumacher decreased to 10 points and Renault is now 7 points ahead of Ferrari. As it seems, each point is going to be important at the end.

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